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Your Tech Questions Answered, Part 5

By Sam Grobart June 5, 2012 6:15 pmJune 5, 2012 6:15 pm

In this batch, I answer questions about turning an old PC into a server of sorts; getting an HD signal through an antenna; contract-free mobile Wi-Fi; a remote control for cord-cutters; and connecting an iPhone to a projector. You can also read my answers to the first, second, third and fourth batch of questions.

Q.

Can I use an old PC to create a central repository for films and music to be played over our household wireless in other parts of the house?

A.

You sure can. What you’re basically doing is setting up an old computer as a network attached storage device (or what one might call a server). One cheap way to do that is to download some free software called, appropriately, NAS4Free. I’d go into greater detail on what to do next, but the good folks at Lifehacker have a step-by-step guide.

Q.

I tried to buy a high-definition antenna and antenna cable for our Samsung HD TV, but B&H sells cable in only 12-foot sections. What are the basics of going to antenna and ditching cable? What are the gotchas? The antenna needs to go on the roof.

A.

Hey, if you don’t mind losing all those cable channels (and some people would consider that a blessing), then going antenna for your HD needs can be a great move. Assuming you’re in a location that pulls in a good signal, you will be getting a clean, uncompressed digital (so no static) image.

The uncompressed thing is huge. Cable companies offer many HD channels, but for them to serve up so many, the signals have to be scrunched down, which can affect image quality. When you pull in, say, WNBC-HD from its transmitter atop the Empire State Building, you will get the full signal in all its high-definition glory.

I love B&H and always include them in my search for a good price, as I find they are often competitive. But if you’re seeking out cables, let me refer you to Monoprice.com, which is by far the best place to get any cables, cords, connectors and other synonyms that start with “c.” You can get HDMI cable for your antenna in all kinds of lengths, and Monoprice’s prices will make you rue the day you ever forked over double-digit dollars for cabling at a big-box store.

Q.

I take a bus to commute every day between Brooklyn and Manhattan. I’ve never used an iPad or similar device and I’d like to know if and how I could with a reliable fast connection but without an annual (now they’re all two years, actually) contract or a high monthly fee. I hear about Wi-Fi all the time, but that seems like it’s limited to your own home and so-called hot spots, which seem to be limited to fixed locations. I already spend $55 a month for unlimited service on a BlackBerry, but the speed is so slow and the Internet connectivity so unreliable that it’s really not unlimited and it’s very frustrating.

A.

Since you’re already paying for a BlackBerry, I’d usually suggest that you see if you’re running the latest BlackBerry operating system (BlackBerry OS 7), as it supports wireless tethering, where your phone shares its mobile data connection wirelessly with other devices. But it sounds like your BlackBerry is … not awesome.

In that case, let me suggest Virgin Mobile to you. They are one of the larger prepaid/no-contract wireless providers out there, and they have something called a MiFi ($100). A MiFi is a credit-card shaped device that gets on 3G and 4G networks and shares that signal with up to five other devices using Wi-Fi. With Virgin’s MiFi, you pay $35 a month for network access — with no contract. You get 2GB of data on 3G networks and unlimited use of faster 4G networks, which is enough for most of us. Spend $55 a month and you can use up to 5GB of 3G data a month; use of 4G networks remains unlimited).

With the MiFi, you can then get a Wi-Fi-only tablet and tether it to the Virgin device. Cancel any time. No commitment. Going on vacation? Don’t pay Virgin for a month and then restart it when you get back. It’s up to you.

Q.

We’ve decided to forgo buying a television and opted instead to view all of our entertainment — and listen to music — on a Mac Mini with a large Apple monitor in our living room. We can get most of the shows we want. But the set-up, particularly navigation, is still awkward. Would an Apple TV or Roku make things better? Or are there other add-ons that you’d recommend for the convergence-minded consumers like us?

A.

I do think that the Apple TV is a step in the right direction, in that at least there’s a single interface to see all your content, but I’d do one thing if you want to go down that road: get Apple’s free Remote app for the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.

The remote control that Apple includes with the Apple TV is O.K., but its minimalism robs it of some functionality. The Remote app for iOS, on the other hand, has something vitally useful — a keyboard. It’s the same keyboard you would use to write an e-mail or send a text, and when searching for shows, it’s worlds better than navigating an alphabetical grid with a four-way arrow button.

Q.

I want to be able to project movies from my iPhone that I either stream from Netflix or am playing from my hard drive. Any suggestions?

A.

Yep. Apple makes a VGA adapter cable. One end plugs into your iPhone, the other into any kind of TV or projector. It costs $29. If you happen to have an Apple TV ($99) and either an iPhone 4S or an iPad 2 or newer model, you could connect the Apple TV to a projector and wirelessly stream the video on your phone or tablet.

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Gadgetwise is a blog about everything related to buying and using tech products. From figuring out which gadget to buy and how to get the best deal on it to configuring it once it’s out of the box, Gadgetwise offers a mix of information, analysis and opinion to help you get the most out of your personal tech.